republican paul brown proposed an amendment that would cut all funding from the part of the 1965 voting rights acts that requires states and counties to get federal approval before changing election laws. enter an icon of the civil rights lewis, john lewis who was brutally beaten as a freedom marcher back in the '60s. >> it is hard and difficult and almost unbelievable that any member, but especially a member from the state of georgia, would come and offer such amendment. there's a long history in our country, especially in the 11 states that are all confederacy, from virginia to texas, a discrimination based on race, on color. before the voting rights act of 1965, it was almost impossible for many people in the state of georgia, in alabama, in virginia, in texas, to register to vote, to participate in a democratic process. it's shameful! that you would come here tonight and say to the department of justice, you must not use one penny, one cent, one dime, one dollar to carry out the mandate of section 5 of the voting rights act. we should be opened up the political process and let in al
